Latch spindle and lock assembly



July 31, 1928. 1,679,026

5. l. FEKETE LATCH SPINDLE AND LOCK ASSEMBLY patented July 31, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT T v 2 1,679,026, r

OFFICE.

STEPHEN I. FEKETE,OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 HUDSON MOTOR CAR COMPANY, 015 DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

LATCH SPINDLE AND LOCK ASSEMBLY.

Application filed January 26, 1926. I Serial No. 83,963.

This invention relates especially, although not exclusively, to combined latchesa-nd locks for the doors of closed automobile bodies.

It is customary to provide the door of an automobile body witha latch which is usually secured to the inner side of the door and is operated by a latch spindle which extends through the door and is provided at the outer side of the latter with an operating handle. It is also customary, in the case of doors of closed automobile bodies, to provide at least one door with a key-operated lock accessible at theexterior of the door and operable to lock the latch against operation by the outside handle. This lock, while located at the exterior of the door, is usually arranged to cooperate with the latch mechanism at the inner side thereof, so that some form of connection extending through the door must be provided. Such an arrangement includes a relatively large number of parts which are diflicult to assemble andto hold in their proper relative positions, and objectionable cramping of the working parts frequently results. This is particularly troublesome in the. case of metal doors of the character now largely used, in which fitting of the various parts in place, or duringassembly, is very difficult.

The present invention has for its object to provide a simple sub-assembly, including an escutcheon plate, a latch spindle, and a lock, which may be applied as a unit to the outside of the door and cooperate with the latch mechanism on the inside of the door, the latch spindle being so mounted in the plate as readily to compensate for variations in the relative positions of the parts, and the lock cooperating with the spindle to lock the latter against latch releasing movement irrespective of the variable position of said spindle.

The foregoing and other objects of the in vention, latter may be carried into effect, will best be understood from the following description of a preferred form or embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that the particular construction described and shown has been chosen for purposes of exemplification merely, and that the invention, as defined by the claims hereunto aptogether with means whereby the pended, may be otherwise embodied without departure from the spirit and scope thereofi In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an assembly embodying the invention, showing the same in position in an automobile door, the latter being shown in broken lines.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the assembly, showing the parts in locked position.

ig. 3 is a similar spindle unlocked and turned into latch releasing position.

Referring to Fig. 1, a portion of an automobile door is shown in broken lines at '10, said door having secured to the inner side thereof a suitable latch generally indicated at 11. Said latch is operated by a spindle 12 extending through the door 10and provided at its outer end with asuitable operating handle 13. The latch spindle 12'is carried by and mounted to turn in anescutcheon plate 14, preferably provided with openings 15 (Figs. 2 and 3) to receive screws or other fasteners 16, whereby the same may be secured to the outer face of the door 10i As shown in Fig. 1, the escutcheon plate 14' is formed in two parts 14* and 14Jsecured together by rivets or other fasteners 17 and having registering openings 18 through which the spindle 12 passes, said openings being of a suitable size to rovide a limited clearance about said spin le.- The hub 19 of the handle 13 and the outer section 14* of the escutcheon plate 14 are formed to constitute the elements of a ball and socket joint or connection as indicated at 20, said ball and socket connection permitting a substantially universal movement of the spindle 12 in the escutcheon plate to an extent limited by the clearance afforded by the openings 18. The position of the axis of the spindle in the plate may, therefore, be varled to compensate for any errors in the relative positions of the parts and to permit'said spindle to cooperate properly with the latch 11;

The sections 14 and 14" of the escutcheon plate 14: are formed, at one side of the latch spindle 12, with oppositely offset. portions 21 between which is secured a cylinder lock semi-cylindrical projection 24 adapted, when said cylinder is in locking position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to cooperate with and be directly engaged by a radially extending finger 25 carried by the spindle 12, thereby-- locking the spindle against latch-releasing turning movement. When the lock is turned into the position shown in Fig. 3. the projection 24 is moved out of the pathoi movement of the linger 25, thereby permitting, thehandle13 and. spindle 12 to be turned into the position shown in said fig.- ure to release the latch.

The elements of the ball and socket connection are held in close engagement with one anothenso as to prevent rattling, bysa spiralspring-26 surrounding the spindle 12 and. hearing at itsopposite ends respectively against the hub of the finger and a thim- 'ble, 2? looselymounted on the spindle and engaging theinner face of the inner section 145 oi the escutcheon plate.

It. will be observedthat the means tor locking. the outside latch operating handle are extremely simple and comprise directly interengaging parts on the spindle and lock.

the bench and tested for working fits and may, thereafter, be applied as a-unit to the door, the necessary compensation for variations in different doors being taken care of by the universal movement of the-spindle in the escutcheon plate, and the operative relationship of the parts being unaffected by this single variation; The construction of .the parts is materially simplified and cheapened, the final assembly materially facilitated, and all danger of cramping; pos1- tively prevented.

Having thus described my invention, I

claim l. A latch spindle and lock assembly com prising an escutcheon plate, a latch spindle mounted to turn therein and' having a radially extending finger, and a cylinder lock carried by said plate at" one' side" of said spindle, said cylinder having 'an extending portlon adapted to be moved into or out of the path of movement of said finger to lock" or unlock said latch spindle by turning the cylinder. j p

2. A latch s nndle and lock assembly comrising an cscutch'e'on. platecomposed of two" partspermanently secured together, a latch spindleinounted in said plate provided with a radially extending finger, and a cylinder loci: held between the parts of said plate, said cylinder having an extending portion adapted to be moved into or out of the path of movement 01 said finger to lock or unlock,

said latch spindle by turning the cylinder.

1n testimony whereof I a'lliX my signature.

STEPHEN 'I. FEKETE. 

